Educator Condemns Lack of Respect for Teacher Prep

Atlanta

Citing American students’ relatively poor showing in math and science on international tests such as PISA—the Program for International Student Assessment—a nationally renowned professor of education at Stanford University is calling for strengthening rather than bypassing teacher-preparation programs to improve student achievement.

At the annual conference of the Association for Teacher Educators, held here Feb. 18-22, Linda Darling-Hammond decried what she said were attempts by politicians such as former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige to erode teacher preparation. Pointing out that student-achievement gains are more influenced by classroom teachers than any other factor, she said the focus should be on providing new teachers with enough tools to be successful.

“We need to be artistic in articulating how to prepare teachers, rather than lowering standards. It would be penny-wise and pound-foolish to bring people into...